「Look at the Picture and Talk about the Painting」Can you clearly explain the difference between contemporary art and modern art?

How to distinguish between modern art and contemporary art?

From the perspective of time
Modern art emerged from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. The core goal of artistic creation during this period was to break free from the constraints of traditional realistic painting. For instance, Picasso innovated the traditional form of artistic expression through his Cubist approach to deconstructing human forms.
Contemporary art began after the mid-20th century, emphasizing the “contemporaneity and freedom” of creation. It no longer focuses solely on breaking through traditional forms, but rather focuses on the deep connection between art and current life, such as “mirror space installations” and “combinations of found objects” among other works.

From the perspective of the choice of creative medium
Although modern art pursues innovative forms, it has never strayed from the framework of “traditional art carriers”. For instance, “Sunflowers” is a canvas oil painting, and “The Thinker” is a bronze sculpture. Overall, it still revolves around the two traditional categories of “painting” and “sculpture”.
Contemporary art has completely broken through the limitations of the medium, and the choice of materials has become more open: YayoiKusama’s “Infinite Mirror Room” uses mirrors and lights as the core materials, and Yin Xiuzhen presents her works by piecing together old clothes, achieving a breakthrough where “anything can become an art medium” for the creative subject.

From the perspective of value orientation
The core of modern art is “aesthetic expression”, emphasizing the visual beauty and unique form of the works, conveying a pure visual experience, allowing the audience to feel the “artistic aesthetic value of the works themselves”. Contemporary art, on the other hand, places more emphasis on “conceptual transmission”, aiming to prompt the audience to think about specific issues. Its value lies not in the visual beauty of the works, but in the mapping and guidance of real-world issues.

In summary, modern art is “an innovation of traditional artistic forms”, with the core being to present new forms within the traditional framework; while contemporary art is “integrating art into life”, with the core being to convey real concepts through diverse forms. These two are not a matter of superiority or inferiority, but rather an inevitable evolution of art as it develops with the times. From “seeking the beauty of form” to “paying attention to real thinking”, the essence is the deep reconfiguration of the relationship between art and society.

The tea for today is all gone. Next time, I’ll brew a fresh pot and enjoy art with you again.